Vik Workshop II/Challenging Janteloven (Jante law)
“Humility in the artist is his frank acceptance of all experiences…”
De Profundis, Oscar Wilde, 1905. (Written whilst imprisoned in Reading Goal)
The workshop is a cooperation with Kriminalomsorgen region vest, connected to the prison Vik fengsel in Sogn. Staying in Vik for 2 weeks, divided into two periods, in April and in June. This is a follow-up of the Vik Workshop in 2009, where focus was placed on decoration of the prison.
Referring to Janteloven, main focus now will be on:
Suggestions on art and design and ideas for the running of the workshop at the prison. Main purpose: Provide design and art strategies which will give the inmates a feeling of dignity and pride, and to produce suggestions for batch production or unique products which can be manufactured in the prison's workshop: furniture, articles for daily use, art objects, tools etc.
Art and culture is important when it comes to probation, in order to increase meaning in life and courage to see the truth, and also to prepare for a successful rehabilitation and returning to society. Meaningful running of the workshop is an important factor. To be able to engage thought and hands in creative tasks with originality and quality, perhaps through teamwork, gives a feeling of dignity. KHiB would like to organise an interdisciplinary course that addresses these problems.
Vik prison has a completely new workshop with all facilities. Hence, they are discussing how art and design and production in the workshop can be used to promote the prison's identity, thus increase the inmates' feeling of dignity. This can be achieved through cooperation with the students, either that they contribute in the realization of their own projects, or develop a cooperation that later enables them to develop their own innovation and production. The workshop has all facilities and will be at our disposal during the entire course period.
Students will be staying in Vik in Sogn for 2 x 1 week + travel. The project will cover expenses such as travel, stay and material costs (pursuant to budget). The students will have to pay for meals. The participants will stay in well-equipped cabins close to the fjord, facilitating their own cooking.
The work will be initiated by the students in cooperation with the prison management, teachers and representatives from probation, through dialogue with the inmates. Morning meetings each day with lectures/presentations/discussions etc.
Vik prison: situated in Vik county in Sogn og Fjordane, facing the fjord. The ordinary capacity is of 39 persons. The prison is well integrated in local society.
If this workshop works out fine, there is a possibility for a long term cooperation with the prison where the workshop might be an arena for cooperation for developing the students' own works, prototypes etc.
Contact persons: Olav Thune and Roy Vadheim, Vik prison.
Ellen Merete Svendsen, Kriminalomsorgen, region vest, will be attending parts of the course.
Iben Sandemose, pictorial artist and illustrator, is giving lectures and organizing mini-workshops on Janteloven.
NB: The first week of the course starts the last Monday of the Easter holiday, 25 April, week 17. That day will be spent on travelling and installing in Vik.
Workform:
Method:
Workshop including lecture/comments/discussion, strategic thinking and practical work. Visiting Vik prison, conversations with inmates and employees. Workshops/working places on site.
Morning meetings each day, social gathering in the evenings.
Materials: Provided when needed. Please use available materials found on site. Cardboard and paper for modelling is provided by the instructors.
Workshop is process oriented: Temporary expression, mock-ups, alternatively prototypes. Realisation of projects and ideas is possible in the future.
Week 1, April: brainstorming, developing sketces, mock-ups, models etc.
Week 2, June: production. This week has no set dates yet
Prequalifications:
1st year Bachelor
The course starts 25/04/2011 / Week 17, and ends 30/04/2011 / Week 17
Location: Location
Provider: Form og Farge
Target group: Akademiet
Møbel
Viskom
Foto
Grafikk
Keramikk
Tekstil
MA Kunst
MA Design
Alle studenter
Target year of study: Bachelor 1
Bachelor 2
Bachelor 3
Master 1
Capacity: 15
Course/projectleader:
Academic staff: